Labor has claimed victory in the New South Wales seat vacated by disgraced MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward .

The Kiama byelection was held on Saturday to replace Ward, who was convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July.

Labor had held the seat for three decades after its creation in 1981 until the then-Liberal MP Ward claimed it in 2011.

ALP candidate Katelin McInerney’s victory was the first major electoral test for the Minns government.

The premier, Chris Minns , said the result was humbling. Labor is favoured to win the Kiama byelection. A big loss could be the beginning of the end for Liberal leader Mark Speakman | Anne Davies Read more

“My government views this result as an invitation to work even harder for the entire state,” he said on Saturday night.

“I want

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